Apparatus for selectively displaying carpets



June 8, 1965 SCHNEIDER 3,187,900

APPARATUS FOR SELECTIVELY DISPLAYING CARPETS Filed June 14, 1962 \[NVENTOR mm 10 WW X United States Patent 3,187,900 APPARATUS FOR SELECTIVELY DISPLAYING CARPETS Willy Schneider, Vorst, Post Schwenke,

Westphalia, Germany Filed June 14, 1962, Ser. No. 202,511 Claims priority, applicaltiiozn Germany, June 15, 1961,

C 6 Claims. ci. 211-47 It is another object of this invention to provide novel and improved devices for exhibiting rugs and carpets which devices are predicated upon a novel rug-handling and rug-manipulating concept which will be set for below more in detail.

The novel features that are characteristic of the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to structure and operation together with additional objects and advantages thereof will best be understood from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof when read in connection with the accompanying drawing in which: a

FIG. 1 is a side view of an apparatus embodying the invention having one single rug supporting frame;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the left portion of the structure of FIG. 1 including several rug-supporting frames;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged horizontal section of a detail of the structure of FIGS. 1 and 2, namely of a bracket;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary elevati-onal detail of a guide bearing forming part of the structure of FIGS. 1 and 2; and a FIG. 5 is a cross-section of the detail shown in FIG. 4.

Reference character 1 has been applied to indicate an upright column 1 mounted on a base 2 preferably provided with rollers (not shown). The horizontal brackets 3 formed of angle iron are fixedly mounted on the column 1. Brackets 3 are provided with one or more circular holes 3a. An upright guide rod 5 is mounted ineach of holes 3a formed in the brackets 3. Reference character 4a has been applied to indicate a plurality of pairs of bearings each supporting aframe 4 which is rectangular in shape when seen in side elevation. Each frame 4 is formed of several rods, and adapted to bedisplayed upwardly and downwardly, a distance which is approx-'-- mate'ly equal to the height of the frame. The upper rod or rods of the frames 4 serve to suspend two rugs or ported on a lower horizontal frame rod 4c'of each frame 4. Rug-support or roll-support 4d isintended to receive rugs which are still entirely rolled-up, or at least in part rolled-up, as wiil be explained below more in detail. If desired rug-support 4a may be arranged somewhat higher than shown in FIG. 1 so that a rolled-up rug resting on support 4d completely exposes the lower frame rod 4c. To so position rug-support do an additional rod (not shown) may be arranged above the lower frame rod 40 and the double rug-support or roll-support 4d may be pivotally supported by the first mentioned rod.

When a rag-loaded frame 4 is moved upwardly along guide rods 5, it must be fixedly held in position at a desired level. This may be effected in one of numerous ways. In the embodiment of the invention shown in the drawing each guide rod 5 is provided with a horizontal bore into which a pin 5av is inserted. The pin 5a is in i the form of a hairpin, including an outer limb 5b having .a bend 5c whose shape conforms to the cylindrical surface of the rod 5. The outer limb 5b of pin 5a is relatively heavy causing the latter to assume the position shown in PEG. 4. A plurality of notches 4e are provided on the lower side of the lower bearing of each pair of bearings 4a. Hence each supporting frame 4 can be locked in its angular positions upon having been pivoted about its respective guide rod 5.

Owing to the considerable weight of rugs or carpets, to which the tubular guide rods 5 are subjected, it is desirable to provide for the latter additional bracing means. According to FIG. 3 an additional angular hearing bracket 3 is provided in the centre between the lower and the upper bearing bracket 3. Centre bracket is provided with U-shaped slots 31) open towards the right,

each engaging one of the guide rods 5.

When mounting a guide rod 5 on column 1, the upper end is first pushed through the hole of the top bracket 3 until its lower end is situated over the corresponding registering hole of the lower bracket 3 into which it then drops. This freedom of movement prevails on account of the U-shaped slots 3b of the centre bracket 3. In order to secure the guide rods 5 when inserted into bracket 3, a gate member 6 is mounted above the central bracket 3 which extends transversely across all the guide rods 5 and prevents them from being moved out of slots or recesses 315. Gate member 6 is supported directly on the centre bracket 3 and is shown in FIG. 1 at a somewhat higher level than it should actually be arranged in order to separate it clearly from centre bracket 3.

The column 1 may be adapted to be secured to the wall of a room. It may be replaced entirely by the wall of a room, in which case brackets 3 are mounted directly on the wall.

In operation one of the rug-supporting frame structures 4 is lowered until its upper edge is approximately at the eye-level of an erect or standing person. Thereupon one edge of the rolled-up mg or carpet remaining on the floor level is raised and secured to the upper edge of the lowered frame structure. The lower portion of the rug or carpet remains initially rolled-up and rests on the concave rug-support 4d which has been pivoted degrees out of the plane defined by frame structure 4. After the upper edge of the rug has been firmly secured to the upper edge of the frame structure 4 the frame structure is raised to the position shown in FIG. 1 in solid lines. The task of raising the rug is relatively easy because each rug-supporting frame structure 4 can be raised or lowered separately, or individually. The lower half or portion of the rug remains in its rolled-up position on the concave rug-support dd until the upper edge of the rug or carpet and of the frame structure 4 have reached their upper limit position, or highest elevation. Thereupon rug-support 4d is pivoted 90 degrees into the plane defined by frame structure 4, thus allowing the lower half of the rug or carpet to unroll and to drop to the floon Now the rug is ready to be viewed in its entirety, i.e. the entire surface of the rug rather than but half of its surface is exposed to view.

Each frame structure 4 may support a pair of rugs or carpets arranged back to back whose front sides are exposed to view in their entirety.

\/Vhat I claim is; g p 1. A device for exhibiting rugs and carpets comprising in combination: (a) a pair of superimposed brackets each' extending (c) a plurality of vertical supporting rods each pro- -jecting through one of said plurality of holes defined .by thebupper of said pair of brackets and each projecting through one of said plurality of holes defined .by the lower of said pair of brackets; I (d) a plurality of pairs of superimposedbearings, each of said plurality of pairs of bearings being slidably mounted on one of said plurality of supporting rods; (e) means for fixedly securing the lower of each of said plurality of pairs of bearings to a point on one of said plurality of supporting rods; and 7 f) a plurality of substantially flat frame structures each having one side juxtaposed to one of said plurality of supporting rods and each being supported by one pair of said plurality of pairs of bearings.

'2. A device as specified in claim 1 comprising a plui .rality of roll-supports open at the upper side thereof,

each of said plurality of roll-supports having a pair of concaveroll-supporting surfaces and each of said plurality. of roll-supports including a vertical pivot means arranged between said pair of surfaces and pivotallysecuring each of said plurality of roll-sup ports to one of 'said plurality of frame structures adjacent the lower side thereof.

'3. A device for exhibiting rugs and carpets comprising in combination:

(a) a. pair of superimposed brackets each extending substantially horizontally and each defining a pluralityof holes, one of each of said plurality of holes .in the upper of said pair ofbrackets and oneof each ,of said-plurality of holes in the lower of said pair of brackets being arranged in registry;

('b) common means for supporting said pair of brackets in fixed spaced relation; 7

(c') a plurality of vertical supporting rods each projecting through one of said plurality of holes defined by the upper of said pair of brackets and each projecting through oneof said plurality of holes defined by the lower of said pair of bracket-s;-

(d)' a plurality. of pairs of superimposed bearings, each of, said pluralityof pairs of bearings being slidably mounted on one of said plurality of supporting rods;

(e) means for fixedly securing the lower of each of said plurality of pairs of hearings to a point on one of said plurality of supporting rods;

(f) a plurality of substantially fiat rectangular frame structures each supported by one of said plurality of pairs of bearings and each extending in cantilever fashion away trom one of said plurality of supporting rods;.and I (g) a plurality of roll-supports open at the upper side thereof, each of said' plurality of roll-supports being secured to one of said plurality of frame structures adjacent the lower side thereof and each of said plurality of roll-supports having a concave roll-support- 'ing surface. t

device for exhibiting rugs and carpets comprising in combination: 7

(a) a pair of superimposed brackets each extending substantially horizontally and each defining a plurality of holes, oneof each of saidplurality of holes in the up'per of said pair of brackets and one of each d of said plurality of holes in the lower of said pair of brackets being arranged in registry;

(b) common means for supporting said pair of brackets in fixed spaced relation;

(c) a plurality of vertical supporting rods each projecting through one of said plurality of holes defined by theupper of said pair of brackets and each projecting through one of said plurality 0f holes defined by the lower of said pair of brackets;

(d) a plurality-of p'airsfof superimposedbearings, each of said plurality-of, pairs of bearings being slidably mounted on one of said plurality of supporting rods;

(e) means for fixedly securing the lower of each of said, plurality ofv pairs. of hearings to a point on one of said plurality of supporting rods;

(f) "an additional bracket supportedon said common means extending substantially horizontally and arrangedat-a level situated between said pair of brackets, said additional bracket having a plurality of substanti ally U-shaped recesses each receiving one of said plurality of supportingrods;

(g) a gate member extending transversely across said plurality of supporting rods firmly maintaining said plurality of supporting rods inside said plurality of recesses;

(h) a plurality of frame structures each supported by one of said plurality of pairs of bearings and each extending in cantilever fashion away from one of said plurality of supporting rods; and

(i) a plurality of roll-supports open at the upper side thereof, each of said plurality of roll-supports having a pair of concave roll-supporting surfaces and each of said. plurality'of roll-supports including a vertical pivot pin arranged midway between said pair of surfaces and pivotally' securing each of said plurality of roll-supports to one of said plurality of frame structures adjacent the lower side thereof.

5. A device for exhibiting rugs and carpets comprising in combination:

(a) a platform;

(b) a vertical column having a predetermined height arranged adjacent one edge of said platform and supported by said platform; 7

(c) a pair of superimposed brackets extending substantially parallel to said platform and supported by said column, one of said pair of brackets being arranged adjacent the top of said column and the other of said pair of bracket-s being arranged adjacent the bottom of said column, each of said pair of brackets defining a pluralityof holes, one of each of said plurality of holes defined by said one of said pair of brackets and one of each of said plurality of holes defined by said other of said pair of brackets being arranged in registry;

(d) a plurality ofsupporting rods substantially equal in length to said predetermined height extending parallel to said column and having lower ends resting on said platform, each of said plurality of supporting rods projecting through one of each of said plurality of holes defined by said one of said pair of brackets andeach of said" plurality of supporting rods projecting through one of said plurality of holes defined by said other of said pair of brackets;

(e) a plurality of pairs of superimposedbearin-gs, each of said plurality ofpairs of bearings being slidably omunted on one of said plurality of supporting rods and having a smaller spacing than said predetermined height;

(-f) means --f or fixedly securing the lower'of eachof said plurality of pairs of bearings to a point on one of said plurality of supporting rods; and

(g) a plurality of substantially fiat rectangular frame structures each supported by one of said plurality of pairs of bearingsiand each extending in cantilever fashion away. from .one of said plurality of supporting rods and across said platform, each of said plurality of frame structures having a height substan- (f) a plurality of substantially fiat frame structures tially less than said predetermined height. each supported by one of said plurality of pairs of A P for exhibiting 2 and carpets comprising bearings and each extending in cantilever fashion comblnatloll! away from one of said plurality of supporting rods, f comm? predetemlmeq helghi; 5 each of said plurality of frame structures having a (b) P of FuPemnPOsed brackets exteefimg height substantially equal to said vertical spacing stantially horizontally and supported by said column, betwean bearings of each pair of each of Said one of said pair of brackets being arranged adjacent the top of said column and the other of said pair of brackets being arranged adjacent the bottom of said colrnun, each of said pair of brackets defining a plurality of holes, one of each of said plurality of holes defined by said one of said pair of brackets and one of each of said plurality of holes defined by rality of pairs of bearings; and

(g) a plurality of roll-supports open at the upper side thereof, each of said plurality of roll-supports having a pair of concave roll-supporting surfaces and each of said plurality of roll-supports including a pivot means having a vertical axis arranged midway besaid other of said pair of brackets being arranged tween d P Surfaces and Pivotally securiug in registry; each of said plurahty of roll-supports to one of said (c) a plurality of supporting rods substantially equal plurality of frame structures adjacent the lower side in length to said predetermined height extending thereof.

parallel to said column, each of said plurality of supporting rods projecting through one of each of said References Cited by the Examiner plfugality}; pf hoiles dtefinfed biy slaidrcine gt said pair UNITED STATES PATENTS o rac e s an eac o sa1 p ura 1 y o supporting rods projecting through one of said plurality of holes x T defined by said other of said pair of brackets; Organ 9 (d) a plurality of pairs of superimposed bearings, each FOREIGN PATENTS of said plurality of pairs of bearings being slidably 578 109 6/24 France mounted on one of said plurality of supporting rods 1 068104 10/59 G and having a smaller vertical spacing than said preemany' determmed heght; FRANK L. ABBOTT, Primary Examiner.

(e) means for fixedly securing the lower of each of said plurality of pairs of hearings to a point of one of CLAUDE LE Emmlnersaid plurality of supporting rods; 

1. A DEVICE FOR EXHIBITING RUGS AND CARPETS COMPRISING IN COMBINATION: (A) A PAIR OF SUPERIMPOSED BRACKETS EACH EXTENDING SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTALLY AND EACH DEFINING A PLURALITY OF HOLES, ONE OF EACH OF SAID PLURALITY OF HOLES IN THE UPPER OF SAID PAIR OF BRACKETS AND ONE OF EACH OF SAID PLURALITY OF HOLES IN THE LOWER OF SAID PAIR OF BRACKETS BEING ARRANGED IN REGISTRY; (B) COMMON MEANS FOR SUPPORTING SAID PAIR OF BRACKETS IN FIXED SPACED RELATION; (C) PLURALITY OF VERTICAL SUPPORTING RODS EACH PROJECTING THROUGH ONE OF SAID PLURALITY OF HOLES DEFINED BY THE UPPER OF SAID PAIR OF BRACKETS AND EACH PROJECTING THROUGH ONE OF SAID PLURALITY OF HOLES DEFINED BY THE LOWER OF SAID PAIR OF BRACKETS; (D) A PLURALITY OF PAIRS OF SUPERIMPOSED BEARINGS, EACH OF SAID PLURALITY OF PAIRS OF BEARINGS BEING SLIDABLY MOUNTED ON ONE OF SAID PLURALITY OF SUPPORTING RODS; (E) MEANS FOR FIXEDLY SECURING THE LOWER OF EACH OF SAID PLURALITY OF PAIRS OF BEARINGS TO A POINT ON ONE OF SAID PLURALITY OF SUPPORTING RODS; AND (F) A PLURALITY OF SUBSTANTIALLY FLAT FRAME STRUCTURES EACH HAVING ONE SIDE JUXTAPOSED TO ONE OF SAID PLURALITY OF SUPPORTING RODS AND EACH BEING SUPPORTED BY ONE PAIR OF SAID PLURALITY OF PAIRS OF BEARINGS. 